Rail-joint.



a. 694,993. Y Patented Mar. n, 1902.-

' .1. n. ROBERTS.

BAIL'JOINT.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY ROBERTS, OF SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

RAlL-JOlNT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,993, dated March11, 1902. Application filed September 13, 1901. $eria1 No. 75,341. (Nomodel.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY Ronnnrs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail-joints; and the mainobject of my in vention is the provision of a joint which will dispensewith fish-plates and provide a means of connection which will make thejoint more firm and yet allow for the contraction and expansion of themetal.'

Another object of myinvention is the provision of a joint for metalrails which may be used upon railroads or for beams in metal structures,as the joints thereof are virtually self-supporting and are providedwith auxiliary means to prevent the joint from in any waytwisting orturning.

To attain the desired objects the invention consists of a rail-jointembodying novel features of construction and arrangement of parts,substantially as disclosed herein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of two rails providedwith my improved joint. Fig. 2 is a similar view of one end of a rail.Fig. 3 is a section taken at the junc tion of the top of the rails, andFig. 4 is a section taken at the j unction at the bottom of the rails.

Referring thereto, A designates one section of the rail, andBthe othersection. The rail A is provided with the usual base 0 and the flat topportion D, said base and top portion being connected by the verticalsupporting-strip E. The end of this rail is constructed so that the toprail portion is cut away at F and the base at G, a point a distancebeyond the end of the top portion, the end of the strip- E projectingbeyond the base and being provided with the lower curved strip H to restupon the flange of the base J of the section B. The section B issomewhat similar in construction, except that the end of the top portionis cut away, as at K, a point beyond the "cut-away portion L of thebase. The extension M is provided with the lower curved strip N, whichis adapted to rest upon the opposide side of the base of the adjacentrail from the other strip. The extension ends of each section graduallytaper or incline outward from the body, so that when they interlock, asshown in Fig. 1, they take the place of the common fish-plate and form atie for the ends of the. rails as well as a brace to prevent the endsfrom sagging or twisting under a great weight. These extensions arefurther provided with the openings 0 to receive bolts P, so that theends of the sections may be securely held together. By having themeeting ends of the top portions out of line with the meeting edges ofthe bases the strength of the joint is inore'effective' and less liableto twist or sag as they assist the extensions to a great extent and alsoact as braces for the joint.

By this construction of joint an absolutelynoiseless joint forrailroad-rails is produced, as fish-plates are dipensed with and saggingof the rails is prevented, as the whole joint supports and bracesitself.

It is evident that I provide a joint for metal rails which is theembodiment of simplicity, durability, and inexpensiveness, thusproducing a thoroughly efficient and practical joint.

What I claim as new is-- The herein-described jointfor the ends of tworails or beams, the end of one having a flanged base, a vertical stripor web connected to the base, and a top portion supported by the strip,said strip having its end extending beyond the baseand top portion, andsaid end of the base extending beyond the top portion; and the end ofthe other having a flanged base, a vertical strip or web connected tothe base, a top portion supported by the strip, said strip extendingbeyond the base and top portion and said top portion extending beyondthe base; and a lower curved strip connected to both ends provided uponopposite sides of the lower edges of the strips to rest upon the upperportions of the bases; where- 95 ing edges of.the top portions and basesare I by the ends of the strips interlock, the meetout of line with eachother, and the lower curved strips rest upon opposite sides of thevertical strip of the bases to prevent the joint from twisting orturning.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- JOHN HENRY ROBERTS. Witnesses:

W. D. ROBERTS, FRANCIS M. STURGIS.

